Baseball glove



Jan. 22, 1957 w. T. TOMPKINS 3 BASEBALL GLOVE Filed Sept. 22, 1955 2 Shets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR ATTORNEYS Jan. 22, 1957 w, TOMPKINS 2,77,023

BASEBALL GLOVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 22, 1955 IN VENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent '0 BASEBALL GLOVE Walter T. Tompkins, Nocona, Tex. Application September 22, 1955, Serial No. 535,733 10 Claims. or. 2-19 This invention relates to a baseball glove and more particularly to an improvement or attachment for baseball gloves or mitts adapted to give the playerbetter control and a firmer grip on the glove as well as to give more protection to the fingers than has heretofore been possible, particularly in the case of a youthful player or other player with smaller than average hands.

With this end in view, the invention contemplates applying finger loops to the back of oneor more of the finger sheaths of a baseball glove extending transversely across those sheaths and adapted to receive and position one of the fingers of the player rearwardly and exteriorly of the finger sheath, whereby through use of the loop he may maintain full control of the particular finger sheath and yet have the full thickness of the entire finger sheath, including both the padded front portion and therear portion thereof, interposed in front of his finger to cushion the impact of the ball. I

The invention further contemplates providing such loops over the root or base portions of the finger sheaths to better receive the relatively short fingers of a youth or player with a small hand, the loops being in such case located adjacent the rear edge of the finger sheaths and adjacent the customary opening in the back of the baseball glove. This permits the player to insert his fingers either into the finger sheaths of the glove in the usual manner or alternatively to project one or more of his fingers outwardly through the said opening .and into. the loops.

The foregoing objects and advantages are all attained by the preferred embodiment of the invention and its several modifications as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 represents an elevation of a baseball glove embodying the invention as seen from the back of the glove; v

Figure 2, an enlarged fragmentary section on line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3, an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 3-3 of Figure l; 1

Figure 4, a plan view of the strap used in formingthe finger loops on the glove shown in Figures l, 2 and 3;

same being shown in flat condition prior to assembly and with the end portions of the terminal securing thongs broken away;

Figure 5, a view generally similar to Figure 1, but showing a part only of a baseball glove having a modified form of loopdorming strap secured thereto;

Figure 6, an enlarged section on the line 6-6 of Fig ure 5;

Figure 7, an enlarged section on the line 7 7 of Fig- "re6; 7 7' '7 Figure 8, a view"similar to Figure 5, showing a further modified form of the invention;

Figure 9, a section on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and first considering the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the invention as there 2,778,023 Patented Jan. 22, 1957 illustrated is applied to a more or less conventional baseball glove comprising a padded front section 10 including palm, finger and thumb portions. Fixed to the rear of said front section is a back portion which may be of multi-piece or composite construction as shown, generally designated 11. It will be seen that the back portion is generally in registry with the front section and marginally connected thereto to form finger sheaths 12, 13, 14 and 15, respectively, and a thumb sheath 16. If desired, a conventional backstop 17 may be secured between the thumb sheath 16 and finger sheath 12 by laces 18.

The back portions of certain of the finger sheaths terminate approximately medially of the palm section of the glove along one edge 19 of the generally medial opening 20 in the back of the glove, the opposite edge of this opening 20 being defined by a usual wrist strap 21, which in the instance shown is integral with the thumb sheath 16 and extends from the base thereof to the relatively remote'side of the glove where it is secured in place by the usual button 22.

The improvement of the present invention consists in applying to such a conventionalbaseball glove one or more finger-receiving loops 23 and 24, respectively, which in the preferred embodiment of the invention are formed bya. single leather or other flexible material strap 25 extending transversely across the backs of adjoining finger sheaths 12 and 13. The mid-section of the strap 25 is secured in suitable manner as by the lace 26 to the back of the glove at a location substantially between the adjoining sheaths 12 and 13 while the opposite ends of the strap project at least partially across these adjoining sheaths and have their terminal ends connected thereto sothat the resulting loops '23 and 24 will receive and position the fingers of the player behind these respective sheaths as is generally indicated in the drawings.

While it is broadly within the scope of the invention to form these loops in any suitable manner and to position them on any one or more of the finger sheaths, it has been found most advantageous to apply them over the finger sheaths 12 and 13 for the index and middle fingers, respectively, as it is these particular fingers which normally carry the brunt of the impact of the ball in the pocket area of the glove. By adding the full thickness of the finger sheaths to the protection afforded by the glove, these fingers will be less subject to damage. In the arrangement shown in the preferred embodiment, the strap 25 is provided at its opposite ends with laterally spaced, preferably integral continuations or thongs 27a-27b and 28a-28b. These, tongs are disposed through the back of the glove through openings which may be defined by metal eyelets in the usual manner, said eyelets being spaced longitudinally of the glove a distance generally equivalent to the spacing between the thongs of the respective pairs'to thus maintain the strap 25 in flat condition transversely of its length. The free ends of the thongs are then projected outwardly through suitably disposed and relatively spaced pairs of openings in the back of the glove and tied together as illustrated; It will readily be'seen that by tying or otherwise interconnecting these exterior ends of the thongs at different points along their lengths, the finger loops 23 and 24 may be readily adjusted to fit fingers of varying sizes or diameters.

In themodified form ofthe invention shown in Figures 5, 6 and fl,- the constructiojn and arrangement is generally similar to that heretofore described in the ire ferred embodiment except that the strap 25' has but a single integral thong extending from each end thereof, the thongs being disposed through transversely aligned openings in the back of the glove and the exterior end of the Y thong in each case then being knotted to Prevent its retraction through these apertures. Obviously, by forming gem-one the knot in different locations lengthwise of the thong, the size of the resulting loops 23' and 24' may be individually adjusted as in the preferred embodiment.

aInr he further embodiment illustrated :infigures -8 .and fintheistrap 25":is.si P1 y: titched to .thehack tofihe glove at suitable-points ,as by Ike .leather thongs or laces 3t) andfid, respectively, to define thetwoiloops {23" and 247. i

Obviously, .thereare :a variety of other ways in which thedoops might be formed secure the relationship .and to accomplish :the ,functions contemplated by \the present invention. Accordingly, the ,prcierred embodiment of the invention and the several modifications thereof idioclosed in:thepresentapplieation are intended no he merely illustrative in nature an mat ato exclude other modificaions falling .within he cope of appended :claims.

.Having thus described ray-invention, what .I claim and desire insecure hyLetters Patent is:

.1. .A baseba l ,glove comprising at ipadded J-firontaection, including ,palm, ifinger and thumb portions, back portions respectively scooperating with said ifinger ;and thumb portions to :form honor and .thumb sheaths, the back portions of certain finger sheaths iterminating medially of said palm, a wrist strap extending (across tlhe wrist edge \of said ,palm ,portionand withwth-e medially terminating back portions of said icertainifinger sheaths definingan opening in the :back air-said glove, .a :fleXihle strap secured across ;the backs of said pertain finger sheath :a itran erscly spaced ,points over the root portions th reof to (define finger il'ECiVing :loops in registry with theresnective sheaths, wherebycertain-of the :fingers (if :the 'Wearer may :he .pro'iected .exteriorly of :the glove through :said opening :and :through said Bloops, rearwardly of :and in registering, .controlling relation with *their respective rfinger sheaths, while lthe .remainingifingers and thumb are inserted within .the glove =in their respective sheaths.

2. Asbaseball :glove comprising ;the padded ifrontscction, including a .palm, :finger :and thumb portions, 'the back portions, respectively cooperating with said finger and thumb portions to iform finger and thumb sheaths, the back portions :of certain finger sheaths terminating medially :of said .palm, -a wrist strap extending across *the wrist edge ofsaidpalm portion and :with the medially-terminating back portions of said certain finger sheaths 'defining an opening ;in =the back of said glove, finger receiving loops secured on ithe backs of certain of said finger sheaths over the root portions thereof in registry with :the --respective sheaths whereby certain of {the fingers of thetwearer may 'be projected 'exteriorly :ofthe glove through said opening *andsaid loops rearwardly-of and i in registering, cont-rollingrelationwith their respective "finger sheaths, while the remaining :fingers and thumb are 'insorted within the glove in their respective sheaths.

3. A baseball glove comprising apadded palm, fingers and *thumb, backiportions cooperating with-said fingers andtthumbztolform finger'and thumb sheaths,-the backportions roftcertain:adjoining'finger sheaths having open ends terminating imedially of said palm, a fiexible strap secured across the backs .of said certain finger rs'heaths at transversely spaced points over the 'root portions thereof and :forming loops .in substantial registry with the respective sheaths, whereby certain of the fingers of a wearerrrnay beprojected throughsaid loops rearwar'clly of and ,in registering, controlling relation with their "respective finger sheaths.

at. baseball :glove comprising a padded *palm, fingers and ithumb, back portions cooperating with said :fingers and thumb toiform fingers and thumb-sheaths the "back portions of certain adjoining finger sheaths having open ends terminating medially of said palm, finger receiving loopssccured across the backs of the root portions of said certain finger sheaths at transversely spaced points and forming loops in registry with the respective sheaths, whereby certain of the fingers of a wearer may be projected through said loops rearwardly of and in registering, controlling relation with their respective finger sheaths.

5. A baseball glove comprising interconnected front and back portions defining 'a' handreceiving pocket having :a hand opening ithrongh one .end thereof, and .finger sheaths communicating with the other end of said pocket, a finger receivingiloop connectetl acrosssaid back portion over the root portion of and in rearwardly registering relation with one of said finger sheaths, said back portion having an opening therethrough at the root of said last-mentionedifingerzsheath, whereby oncof the wearers fingers may the selectively inserted .either within said sheath .or through said opening :and said loop .exteriorly of ihe sheath.

6. ,baseball glove (comprising interconnected front and back :portions defining .a hand receiving pocket having a hand opening through .one end thereof, ,anddiuger sheaths -.c.omrnunicating with-the other end .of said pocket, a plurality rQf sfingenreceiving loops connected across the backs :of :the gems of {certain of said finger sheaths .in substantial registry with the :respective ;roo,ts said back portion that/ing :an opening :therethrough at the roots of said last mentioned tfinger sheaths-where y c ai of h wearer's fingers :may he sselectively inserted either within said sheaths or through :said opening :and said loops sexteriorly :of .the sheaths.

,7. .Abaseballglove as ddfillfidin claim .6 in which said loops are formed by a flexible strap medially :anchored toasaidiback mortionzsubstantiallybetween :the roots :of adjoining :finger :sheaths, :the said strap extending across the ssaidirontsnndderminating at its :opposite ends iln :relativelyzspaced furoations,said fnrcations of seachtend beingzadiustablyprojected :inwardlythrough relatively longitudinally spaced apertures in said back 'portion, .and thence outwardly :through relatively transversely :spaced apertures in said :back portion, .the outer extremities :of each pairtofzfurcations being then tied together.

58. Aibaseballglove ras defined in -claim 6 in which said loops are formed by a flexible strap extending transversely overssaidf back rportion :across the =root-portions of aplurality .of adjoining i finger sheaths and anchored to :said back portion ibetween relatively adjoining loops.

9. A baseball glove as defined in claim 6 in which said loops are lfo'rmed by a fieaible strap extending across the backs of "a plurality of adjoining finger sheaths and stitched to said backs on opposite sides of the respective sheaths.

ll). sA baseball vglove as defined in claim '6 "in which said loops 'are'defined by'afiexible strap medially anchored to said back portion substantially between'the roots of adjoining *fingershcathg' said strap 'extending across said roots and having bifurcated ends, each said bifurcated end cxtending inwardly through an aperture formedlin said back portion and *then outwardly *through another aperture formed in said back portion, the exteriorlyprojecting' furcations then-beingknottedtogether'to prevent Withdrawal through said last mentioned apertures.

Kennedy Apr. 15,1924 Latina v Feb. 2 v1953 

